Chemistry in the Crosshairs: Better Living through Chemistry

Sponsor(s): University of Guelph Chemistry Department, Chemical Institute of Canada

A public lecture by Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of the Office of Science and Society, McGill University

Dr. Joe Schwarcz will give a public lecture on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 12 pm in War Memorial Hall at the University of Guelph. A description of his lecture is found below. His lecuture will help to reinforce the importance of chemistry to everyday life and will hopefully interest both students and the general public in chemistry.

CHEMISTRY IN THE CROSSHAIRS
“Better Living Through Chemistry.” The truth of that slogan has not changed since it was introduced in 1935. Unfortunately, though, the public’s perception of chemistry’s role in life has changed dramatically. The word “chemical” has become a dirty word, synonymous with “toxin” or “poison.” While there certainly are skeletons in the chemical closet, the naïve inference that chemicals are the cause of numerous societal ills is unjustified. As chemists, engineers and educators we have not done a very good job of presenting our science in the proper light. We need to promote a realistic, science-based risk-benefit analysis to curb the growing chemophobia.